"SoHo, here it is!"
When Donald Trump announced the Trump SoHo in 2006, he called it "brilliant," "awe-inspiring,"
and a "masterpiece."
"Welcome to the Trump SoHo..."
But then things got messy.
And in 2012, Trump's two eldest children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, faced possible criminal
indictment over their marketing of the building.
This is the story of how that case disappeared.
"I'd rather let the product speak for itself and let you see that what we've been
saying for all of these years actually is true."
Donald Jr. and Ivanka formed a Limited Liability Company called Donka SoHo Member.
And they both signed the licensing deal on Trump SoHo alongside their father,
who is now our president.
The building's condos went on the market in September 2007, right before the global economy
began to implode.
"Stocks all around the world are tanking."
"The stock market is now down 21 percent."
"Many Americans have felt anxiety about their finances and their future…"
In public, the Trumps and their brokers were bullish.
Donald Trump boasted there was a waitlist of 3,200 for just 400 units.
First, the building was 31 percent sold.
Then, 53 percent.
In June 2008, Ivanka told journalists the building was 60 percent sold.
But none of this was true.
In fact, according to a sworn affidavit by a Trump partner in March of 2010, the building
was only 15.8 percent sold.
In August 2010, the patience of some condo buyers ran out.
More than a dozen of them sued the Trumps and their business partners for deceptive marketing.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance began to investigate.
"Welcome to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, I'm Cy Vance."
They were looking at possible fraud and larceny charges.
By overstating the number of units sold, they believed, the Trumps were falsely inflating the value
of the apartments.
According to sources familiar with the case, investigators discovered emails between the
two younger Trumps discussing how to coordinate what false information to give potential condo
buyers about how many condos had been sold.
In one email, Donald Jr. assured a concerned broker that no one would ever find out about
the false statements.
Prosecutors believed those emails demonstrated Ivanka and Donald Jr. intentionally deceived
the buyers.
The Trump defense team argued that it was just "puffery."
With the evidence he had, Vance—the DA— needed to decide whether he would charge Donald Jr.
and Ivanka Trump with crimes.
But then, enter Marc Kasowitz.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Marc Kasowitz, President Trump's personal lawyer."
He defended Trump University.
He threatened to sue the New York Times when it published a story about Trump groping women.
He also represented Bill O'Reilly, when Fox News ousted him over accusations
of sexual harassment.
Yeah, that Marc Kasowitz.
In January of 2012 Kasowitz made a $25,000 contribution to Vance's reelection campaign.
It was his first donation to Vance, and he instantly became one of Vance's top donors.
A few months later, in early May 2012, Kasowitz requested a meeting with Vance.
Following his own policy, Vance returned Kasowitz's campaign contribution.
On May 16, Kasowitz meets with Vance.
Then, in August 2012, the case against Donald Jr. and Ivanka was closed.
Vance had overruled his prosecutors.
Vance says he made the call on the merits and that Kasowitz's donation did not affect
his decision.
For his part, Kasowitz denies that his contribution was meant to influence Vance.
One month after the case was dropped, Kasowitz contacted Vance's campaign about hosting
a fundraiser for the DA's re-election.
Over the next year, Kasowitz personally gave Vance $31,993 and held two fundraisers for him.
Because the Trump case had been closed nearly six months earlier, Vance's campaign accepted
these contributions.
Now, Vance said he will return Kasowitz's second donation.
According to people who heard him, Kasowitz later boasted to colleagues about his role
in getting the Trump case dropped.
Though Kasowitz denies this.
To date, only 128 of the 391 units in Trump SoHo have been sold.
That's about 33 percent, if you're counting.
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